Folding bed



Jan. 5 1926.Y 1,568,348

F. L. H. SIMS FOLDING BED Fired Dec. s, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .w .m dm

Jan. 5 1926.

F. L. H. SIMS FOLDING BED' Filed Dec. 8, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hai; w/n;

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F. L. H. SIMS FOLDING BED Filed Dec. e, 1921 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 r illl nA 5./ fj d. Mu

, Huid? L W. QM QM @A INVENT B Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK L. SIMS, OFVTORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA,

FOLDING BED.`

Application led December 8, 1921. Serial No. 520,986.

To all zo/0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. H. SIMS, of the city of Toronto, in thecounty of York, Province of Ontario, Canada, a subject of the King ofGreat Britaimliave invented certain new and useful Improvements inFolding Beds, of which the following is a specification.

This' invention relates to beds which are adapted to fold up to form acouch, and more particularly to that type in which the bed, whenextended, `has its ends parallel to the back of the couch, and my objectis to devise a simple, strong and easily constructed bed, which may beof full size when extended and which when folded will form a comfortablecouch of normal proportions.

I attain my object by means of the constructions hereinafter describedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which f l Fig. 1 is afront` elevation of my improved folding bed partly broken away andpartly in section; y

Fig. 2 a detail in end elevation, partly in section of parts of the bedillustrating more particularly the construction and mode of operation ofthe movable ends;

Fig. 3 an .elevation of part of the same showing more particularly theconstruction which enables the ends to be turned rearwardly;

Figs. 4 and 5 details illustrating the method of carrying the movableends to enable them to be adjusted to different positions;

Fig. 6 a plan view of the bed partly in section and in the foldedposition;

Fig. 7 a vertical section of the extensible frame carrying the mattressframe;

Fig. 8 a plan view partly broken away of parts of the same;

Fig. 9 an end elevation of the same parts.;

Fig. 10 a side elevation of the bed partly in section and with the nearend removed, the mattress frame being shown in dotted lines in extendedposition; i

Fig. 11 a front elevation of the spring head board;

Fig. 12 a front elevation, partly broken away and partly in section,illustrating the arrangement of the foot hoard and the legs carriedthereby;

Fig. 1.3 a sectional detail of the same parts on a plane at right anglesto Fig. 12; and

ig, 14: det-iii ,llHSlatng the method of supporting the inner end of themattress frame on the fixed end members when the bed is extended.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding partsin the different gures.

The main frame or housing of the bed comprises end members 1 of anysuitable form and suitably cross connected as, for example, by the crossbrace 2, and a back 3 supported from the end members by means of metalbrackets 4c, which are oifset inwardly as shown to provide sufficientspace at each end for the side members of the mattress frame hereinafterdescribed. This back can easily be upholstered in any suitable manner. s

The end members 1 are preferably provided with movable ends 5, which areadapted to assume either a vertical position as shown at the right handside of Fig. 1, or a substantially horizontal position as shown at theleft hand side of Fig. l with the surface which is then uppermost insubstantial alinement with the upper surface of the seat 6 and which aresupported as hereinafter described.

It isnlso desired that these ends shall be capable of being swung backout of the way by a vertical movement in a plane at right angles to theplane in which they normally stand. These movements are obtained bymeans of the following constructions. At the upper side of each fixedend member 1 is supported a carrying member 7. This carrying member isadapted to be swung rearwardly in a vertical plane to occupy a positionsubstantially at right angles to that in which it normally lies. Onemethod is to provide a hinged link 8 pivotally connected at one end tothe top of the lixed member and at the other end to the under side ofthe carrying member 7. This link is normally received in a recess formedin the upper side of the fixed end member and is located adjacent theinner end of the carrying member, its position being such that thecarrying member will either lie flat on top of the end member as shownin Figs. l and 2 of the `drawings in full lines, or turned up on end'asindicated .in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The movable end may thus be swungback out of the way .by turning up the carrying member.

To the carrying member the movable end 5 is connected by means @i a pairof liasfaY llO links 9 (see particularly Figs. t and 5). Each linkis'pivotally connected at one end to the carrying` member 7 and at theother to the under side of the movable end. These links are received inrecesses formed in the carryiirg` members and are so proportioned andpositioned that the movable member may be brought to the position shownin full` lines in Fi or swung;` down to the position shownin dottedlines in the same figure, in either positionlresting flatlyY on the topof the fixed end member.

Under some circumstances it mayv be desirable to have` the mo vable end.member held in an inclined position as shown in Fig. 4.. T hisisfreadilv effected by providinggza shoulder=10 on the top of thecarrying member against which the outer corner of the movable end.member may engage as shown.

Tlvhen the n'iovable ends are in their normal vertical position itisdesirable to lock theinto the bac-k 3 sotl at simple outward pressureagainst them will not displace them. For' this purpose I provide at cachend of the back a projecting arm 11 having a notch formed therein withwhich a pin 12 extendingi'earivardlv from thevmovable end. may1 beengaged. To release the end it must be slightljrr lifted as it isswungoutwardly. It is desirable to lock the carrying' members? down in placeon the xed ends when the bed is` folded. F r thispurpose secure to eachcarrying member a forwardl' facingliooklS, which is adaptedto be partlyreeeivedin the notch 19 formed in the top of the fixed ends, thusresisting lateral displacement of the carrying member. A. partI Si@ oftheextension frame 18 is adap'tedto titf overf the end of the hook18,Vwhentlie frafme is. pushed into itsflimit,and thus `the carrying`membersare firmly locked down and braeedragainst strains tendingA torock them transverselyv on the fixed ends, sec Fig.

The mattress frame in this bed comprises three' sections 13, 11 nd 15,the sides of whicliiare hinged .together at 16 and-17, the pivotsorihinge pins being` integral with the sides of the intermediatesection'll (see particularly Figs. (l, 7. S, 9 and 10. This: seetionalmattress frame or truck'-ispivota-lly supported on an extension frame 18which is slida-ble between the fixed ends 1 of the bed. This truckcomprises afront and rearvardlyv extending members 19 secured to thefront and preferably',Y braced therefrom by the triangular plates 20.The rearward ends of these reafwardlvvv extending members are connectedby a cross bar 21 and rollers 22 are suitably connected with the frontvof the extension frame and the cross bar 21 to facilitate the extensionof the fra-meto the position .shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. Thefirm" :of` shapedmetal member 23the upperr ends of `the frame supportsthe U` which are slightlyol'fset rearwardly and are pivotally connectedwith the mattress frame by the same pivots 1G which form the hingesbetween the outer section 1 3 of the mattress frame and the intermediatesection 14. `W-hen the bed is folded and the truck pushed into positionbetween the end members 1 as shown-in full linesin Fig. 1() the innersection of the mattress frame rests upon the cross bar 21. conneetingtherearwardly ef;- tendingcmembers 19 ofthe truck. rfhe intern'ie intemen'iber 1-1 then occupies a substantialliv vertical position belowl thepivot 1G, while the outer member' of the mattress frau'ielies in asubstantiallg.v horizontal postimrbehiiul the pivot 1G. When in thisposition, this part of the mattress frame supported by means ofthefolded mattress employed with the bed, the lhead rest hereinafterdescribed and finally, if the frame section is` sufficiently depressedby the rule joints al the p'vots ltlialso hereinafter referred to;v

Late-calli` extendingpins 2li are provided on-thel sides'ofithe innersection of the mattress frame and blocks 25 or other supports areconnected with the inner sides of the fixed ends 1' of the bed frame onwhich the pinsQll rest when the bed is extended and the inner section isin the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9.

@ver the rearward blocks Q5 are supported the. keepers 26 which serve toprevent the inner part of the mattress fravn'ie being'tilted upwardlywhen the bed is inusc. rlhese blocks are preferably formed of metalplates offset to space their upper edgesl from the main iframe. whilethe pins adjacent the intermediate section of the mattress frame areformed with lips overhang'ing the upper edges of the blocks so thattherv canslip ott if an)T strains are exertedlendto-springl apart thesides of (he main frame. 'llhe' rearward pins mai7- be similari)Yv,formed though the need is materially less, asthe rear part ofthe frametied b v the back Lhemattress frame is formedof metal angle bars o1'T-sectiou, with preferablj,v a` slight'variation in the case of theintermediate section, the stems of the angle bars being.inwardlivvdirected and haring` the: lieto ible metallic mattress fabric 31, whichma),y be of'y any ordinai f' construction. secured thereto bv means ofthe usual4 tension springs. The flanges of' the ends of the outersections are vformed integral with the flanges of the sides of theadjacent section, but the stems are divided, overlapped and securedtogether, thus forminga strong, rigid corner. rhe pivots 16 and 1T ae inalinement with the stems of the Tsections. as1shownparticularl)v inFigs. T, 9 :and 1.0 ofA the drawings. 1With this arrangement the strainexerted by the springs of the metallic mattress fabric acts in the sameplane or planes as the axes yof the pivots whether the bed is open orclosed or in any intermediate position, and the pull being thus alwaysin the planes of the stems of the T-sections7 the twisting effect on themattress frame which exists with L-shaped sections is avoided.

I am further enabled, as will be seen particularly on reference to Figs.7 and 9, to make the pivots of ample size without unduly weakening theside members of the frame, and I am further enabled to secure rulejoints between the sections of muchV greater strength than has beenheretofore possible. At the joints, it will be noted, the stems of theTfseetions of the mattress frame sections 13 and 15 are cnt away to makeroom for the pivots and that the shoulders 27 formed on the sides of theintermediate mattress section andwhich is adapted to engage the stemr ofthe adjacent T-angle member is sufficiently distant from the centre ofthe pivot to give itan effective bearing against the stem and thus makea strong joint when the sections are in alinement.

` The fianges of the sides of the intermediate section are alsopreferably out away to form the shoulders 28 which engage the stems ofthe adjacent T-angles when the bed is fol-ded. It will be noted that thestein of the T at each end ofthe sides of the intermediate mattressframe section extends aast the pivot, which it may do since the pivot is'integral with theside,y sufficiently far to meet the stem of the sidesofthe adjacent sections when the mattress frame is e2;- tended. I canthus secure my mattress tal `ric to the sides of the mattress framesections exactly in line with the pivots, `which eliminatesobjectionable bulging ot the fabric when the mattress frame is folded.The side members of the intern'icdiate section of the mattress frame arealso preferably formed with a greater thickness of material in theflange than the T-sections of which the other partsfof the mattressframe are formed, thus further increasing the strength ofthe joints andgiving the shoulders 27 and 28 a wide bearing` on the stems of theadjacent T-sections. In this intermediate section the exact T-form isdeparted from, the T-form being found at the ends only, while the centeris of L-section. The two forms of section merge into one anothergradually y one leg of the L-section being integral with and also inalinement with the stems of the T-sections. The other leg of theL-section is deepened to maintain the stiffness and strength of themember.

By this construction the pivots 16 may be brought closer to the frontthan is otherwise possible without. interference between the sidemembers of the section and the horns of This means that "foot board.

'beard be frictionally held in its folded down the depth of the bed fromback to front when folded, and particularly the overhang and width ofthe seat may be somewhat reduced which is a desideratuin.

The operation of extending and folding the bed is substantially asfollows. The movable ends 5 are swung out of the way and the truck isthen pulled forward, usually by placing the hands on the seat 6 which isconnected with the mattress frame as hereinafter described, and exertinga for ward pressure. The truck slides forward between the fixed ends andthis movement is continued until the keeper 29 secured to the cross bar2l of the truck engages beneath the cross brace 2 of the main frame. Thelifting handle is thus exposed and is puller upon and the outer section13 of the mattress frame is thus swung upwardly until is alined in avertical position rvith the intermediate section le. `rI`he rule jointsof the pivots 16 then prevent further relative movement between theouter and intermediate sections. rilhe movement of the outer section iscontinued and the inter, mediate section then swings on the pivots 7.The inner section swings on the pivots 7 until the further relativemovement of the two sections is prevented by the rule joints of thepivots l?. rIhe movement of the outer section is still continued and theinner and intermediate sections are thus swung up to a horizontalposition with the pins 2t on the inner section in front. of the blocks25. The mattress frame is then pushed rearwardly until the pins orprojections 2st thereon engage over lthe rearward blocks and under thekeepers QG. The inner end of the mattress frame is then firiniysupported in the horizontal position.

rihe outer end of the outer section is supported by suitable legs. Inthe arrangement shown these legs are carried by the arms 3B on which thefoot board 32 is carried7 these arms 3S being hinged at each side of thesection on the blocks 34; secured to the mattress frame. A cross bar 35preferabiy connects these brackets forming a fixed foot board. The legsare hinged on the arms 38 so a to swing transversely of the bed. lihenthe bed is being` folded the foot board is hinged down to engage vandhold the mattress employed with the bed and when the foot board is inthis position the legs are swung up and entend longitudinally of the bedand may thereafter more or be moved to extend transversely of the bed.lVhen the bed is extended and the movable fcot board is raised to thevertical position, the legs "swing inwardly by gravity until restrainedi by the stops 3T carried by the legs which engage the arms 33 whichvcarry the fixed It is desirable that the foot esiticn so that itretains its grip on the Zea mattress and bed clothes, as the bed isfolded.

For this purpose l stamp a tit 46 on each arm 33, which is adapted tospring into a recess 47 formed in the corresponding bracket 34 when thefoot board is folded down and which will spring out vagain when amoderate degree of force is applied to swing the foot board up again.

rllhe bed is Vprovided with a headboard which comprises an ellipticspring 3S supporting a transverse member 39. These parts are preferablyso proportioned that when the bed is folded, the cross transverse member39 engages the dxed part of the foot board and compresses the ellipticalspring 38 so that when the extension frame is pulled forward, the spring38 tends to lift the inner end of the outer section of the mattressframe, thus facilitating the opening of the bed.

The great strain of the tension springs of the mattress fabric 3lnecessitates the provision of a cross brace adjacent the point ofconnection of the inner and intermediate mattress frame sections, butthis brace must, when the bed is in use, be well below the plane of themattress fabric to allow for the sagwhichnecessarily takes place whenweight is put on the mattress and, when the bed is folded, the bracemust lie in the very small space between the under side of the mattressframe section and the fioor. therefore employ a U-shaped brace 40, theends ot' which are pivoted at il on the sides of the inner section 15 ofthe mattress frame. To ensure this lbrace folding up when the bed isfolded I connect thereto one end of a coil spring d2, the other end ofwhich is connected with the end of the mattress frame section l5. Thisspring tends to maintain the brace parallel to the under side of themattress fabric, while it is sufliciently elastic to permit the brace toswing down readily when weight. is placed on the fabric 3l.

Owing to the sag which takes place in the mattress fabric 3l when weightis placed upon it as hereinbefore referred to, it is impossible toemploy a continuous solid front for the extension frame 18, and a gapmust be provided at the upper side of the front` which in the ordinarytype of divanette, is usually filled with a piece of ieXible fabric.This construction I find undesirable, and l employ in lieu thereof afront board l?) hinged at its lower edge to the fixed part of the frontof the extension frame. This front, when the bed is folded, is held inal vertical position by a chain 44 secured to the front and to the outersection of the mattress frame. lVhen this outer section is swungoutwardly, the chain is slackcned and the hinged front allowed to fall.Its fall, however, will not take place until the seat has dropped to theposition f vshown in dotted lines in Fig. l0. The seat is connected withthe 4outer section Vof the mattress frame to hinge down so that it doesnot in any way interfere with the sagging of the mattress fabric 3l whenweight is placed thereon. lVhen the bed is folded the seat fallsnaturally to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1C'.

The method of extending the bed has been hereinbefore described and,whenthe bed is so extended, as the movable ends 5 have been swung outwardlyand then rearwardly hereiubefore described to bring them substantiallyparallel to the wall, the sides of 'he bed are. left open andunobstructed as an ordinary bed. The bed is folded by erersing theprocess of extension.

A folding bed constructed substantially as described possesses thefollowing advantages. rlhe device may be used as an ordinaij. sofa whenthe movable ends are in their normal vertical position, and when so usedis .scarcely distinguishable from an ordinary sofa owing to the closetit between the seat and the bach and ends. At the same time if anyonedesires to use the sofa to recline upon, one or both movable ends may bedropped to the horizontal position. Wlhcn the de vice is used as a bedthese ends will usually be required to be swung back entirely out of theway as their fit is so close to the seat as to prevent the pulling outof the etellSlll l'lllfle.

Owing to the specific construction of the niattfess frame of T-anglebars with the fabric lying in the same horizontal plane with the axes ofthe ljoints when the `bed is open, and in three planes at right anglesto one another when the bed is closed, the tendency of the frame to windor tw-ist when opening or closing is practically elimiatcd. As themattress frame is formed of three sections only, with its major sectionssimilar, the cost of the frame is kept down to a minimum. The mattressframe, being supported on an extension frame which is readilydisconnectible from the Amain frame, the handling of thedevice isgreatly facilitated either for shipping or storing orfor installation inthe apartment in which it is to be used. lVith the present constructionno springs are employed which `are essential to theopening and shuttingof the bed. The device is compact so that I am able to keep the seat lowand not too deep from back to front, and the bed when extended fairlyhigh. l am also enabled to employ a fixed back which does not require tobe moved or interfered with in the Voperation of the bed. The back beingfixed, the whole of the main frame or housing may be made substantialand rigid.

What l claim as my invention is l= ln a folding bed, the combination ofa housing and a truck slidable relative to the housing; a mattress framepivotally connected intermediate ofk its ends to the forward part of thetruck and formed in three sections hinged to one another; projections onthe inner mattress frame section; and supports on the rearward part ofthe housing adapted to support the inner section lof the mattress framewhen the bed is extended and the truck pushed in to bring the projections over the supports.

2. Inl a folding bed; the combination of a housing and a truckslidablerelative to the housing; afmattress frame pivotally connectedintermediate of its ends to the forward part of the truck and formed inthree sections vhinged to one another by rule joints; legs carried bytheouter mattress frame section adapted to rest on the floor when the bedis extended; projections on the inner mattress frame section; andsupports onY the housing adapted to be engaged by said projections tosupport the inner section of the mattress frame. when the bed isextended and the truck pushed in to bring the projections over thesupports. y y

3. In a foldingbed; the combination of a housing and a truck slidablerelative to the housing; a mattress frame pivotally connectedintermediate of its ends 'to the forward part of the truck and formed inthree sections hinged to one anotherl by rule joints; legs carried bythe outer mattress frame section adapted to rest on the floor when thebed is extended; projections on the inner mattress frame section;supports on the housing adapted to be engaged by said projections tosupport the inner section of the mattress frame when the bed is extendedand the truck pushed in to bring the projections over the supports; andkeepers over said supports preventing upward movement of saidprojections.

It. In a folding bed; a sectional mattress frame having its sides formedsubstantially of T angle bars similarly arranged in each section; theflanges of the sides of the sections being pivoted together by pivotspositioned in alinement with'the stems of the Ts, said stems being cutaway adjacent to the pivots, a shoulder being formed on the fiange ofthe side of a section at each joint adapted to engage the stem of theside of the adjacent section to form a rule joint.

5. In a folding bed, a sectionalmattress frame having its sides formedsubstantially of T angle bars similarly arranged in` each section` theianges of the sides of the secttions being pivoted together by pivotsposiytioned in alinement with the stems of the Ts, the stein of the sideof one section at each joint being cut away to clear the adj acentfpivotand the stem of the side of the adjacent section extending past the axisof the pivot to substantially contact with the first mentioned stem whenthe sections are in alinement.

6. A sec-tional mattress frame constructed substantially asset forth inclaim 6 in which the pivots are integral with the sides of the sectionin which the stems of the Ts overlap the pivots and the overlappingparts of the stems are also integral with the sides.

F.In a folding bed; a sectional mattress frame having its sides formedsubstantially of T angle bars similarly arranged in each section, theflanges of the sides of the sections being pivoted together by pivotspositioned in alinement with the stems of the Ts, the stem of the sideof one section at each joint being cut away to clear the adjacent pivot,and the iiange of the side of the adjacent section being formed withspaced shoulders adapted to engage opposite sides of the stem aforesaidto limit the kswing of the sections upon one another in eitherdirection.

8. In a folding bed, the combination of a main frame formed of two partsslidably connected; the forward part including a U- shaped member withupwardlyv extending arms; a mattress frame pivotally connected,intermediate of its ends, tothe ends of the U- shaped member and formedin three sections hinged to one another; abent cross brace pivotallyconnected at its ends to the sides of the inner section adjacent itspoint of connection withthe intermediate section; and spring meansconnected to said brace and to the mattress frame tending to draw thebrace to a position parallel to the mattress frame.

9. In a folding bed, the combination of a supporting frame; a foldingmattress frame carried thereby; a bent cross brace pivotally connectedat its ends to opposite sides of the mattress frame; and a coil springconnected to said brace and to the mattress fiame tending to draw thebrace to a position parallel to the mattress frame.

10. In a folding bed, the combination of a U-shaped'supporting memberwith upwardly extending arms and a mattress frame formed in threesections hinged to one another and pivotally connected with the armsaforesaid by means of pivots substantially co-axial with the hingejoints between two of the mattress frame sections; the end sectionshaving their sides formed of T-angle bars, each side of the middlesection being formed of T-section while in its middle portion the headof the T is displaced in a. direction away from the transverse part ofthe U-shaped member, whereby said transverse part may contact with thesides of the middle sections approximately in a plane intersecting thepivots between the sides of the section.

ll. In a foldinU bed; a frame; a fixed end member on the rame; anlextension frame movable in a direction parallel to the said end member;a movable end; a carrying CII lllll member for the movable endso'connected to the fixed end that it is swingable thereon in a verticalplane; a hook secured to the undersideof said carrying member; and apart on the extension iframe engageablewith the hook when the extensionframe is pushed in to hold down the said carrying member.

l2. ln a folding bed; a frame; a iixed end member on the frame; anextension vframe movable-in a direction parallel to the said end member;a movable end; a carrying member for themovable'end so connected to thei'ixed end that it is swingable there` on in a vertiealplane; a hooksecured to the underside of said carrying member; and a part on' theextension frame engageabl'e with the hook when the extension frame ispushed into hold down the said carrying men'ibe'r, a notch being`forn'ied in the fixed eiid 'to partly receive the hook;`

13. In a folding bed; the combination of a housii'ig provided' with ixedends; a truck slidabl'e into and out of the housing; a seat supported onthe truck and extending above the iixed ends when the truck ispositioned within the housing; movable end members for the housing; andhinged' connections for ing fixed' end'inember and the other of said'sides pressed against the end of the seat'.

14. In a folding bed, the combination of a housing `provided with fixedends; a truck slidable into and outl ot the housing; a seat supported onthe truck and extending above the fixed ends when the truckis positionedwithin the housing; carrying members for movable end 'members eachsupported on one of the fixed end members so that it may liehorizontally thereon or be swung back to a vertical position; movableend members for said housing; and hinged connections between the movableend members and the carrying members proportioned to enable each o themovable end members to be swung` to lie with either of two adjacentsides resting on the corresponding carrying member and the other of saidsides pressed against the end of the seat.

Signed at Toronto, Canada, this 24th day of November; 1921'.

FREDERCK L. H. SIMS.

